Jack Butler - 08.09.2018

Jack Butler made a dream debut for Ashington on Saturday after scoring a 95th minute winner for the Colliers in their home Ebac Northern League first division clash against Whickham.

But the youngster who only last month celebrated his 18th birthday, admitted afterwards that he didn’t actually see his goal which brought the Woodhorn Lane outfit a welcome win - only their second of the campaign. Butler is with Blyth Spartans but has linked up with Ashington on a dual registration - and Saturday’s hero of the hour was naturally delighted: “The ball has come through to me from a corner and I was expecting it,” said the Morpeth-based teenager who over the past two years, has played for New Hartley Juniors and England Schoolboys, “It hit my chest and then bounced up perfectly for me to hook with my right foot. I’ve got to be honest and say that I didn’t see the ball go into the net – I just heard the shouts! At 2-2, I always thought we would get another opportunity and when it came, I stuck it away.”

He continued: “I’d been getting a few minutes here and there at Spartans but I thought I would join Ashington and get more game time under my belt. It’s a good standard and it will be a good experience for me – but Blyth can call me back at any time.”

Ashington-born Butler reflected on his first 90 minutes in a Black & White shirt: “It was a case of me trying to get on the ball and weave past players - and I thought I did that quite well, especially in the first half,” he added, “I found it a bit more difficult in the second half but overall I was quite happy with my performance and I enjoyed it. We got the ball down and played and when we did that, Whickham couldn’t live with us. I thought it was a good performance from the lads and really good for us to get the three points today.”

Ashington manager Steve Bowey could not heap enough praise onto Blyth Spartans and their manager Alun Armstrong: “Alun (Armstrong) rang me on Thursday night and highly recommended Jack. To be honest Alun has done me a massive favour and I’ve got to thank him as well as Blyth Spartans for that. Jack is one for the future. He has been in and around the squad at Blyth, came on against us pre season and I have monitored his progress. That’s Jack’s first taste of Northern League football and credit to him. I thought he was outstanding first half. Whickham couldn’t live with him and he got his rewards right at the end and for a young lad of 18 to come in and score on his debut is a dream really and I’m over the moon for the kid.”